Apply for a Home

Habitat for Humanity home ownership is unique, since we serve many families whose income level is not high enough to qualify for other home ownership programs.

Families need to meet the following criteria in order to qualify for consideration of Habitat for Humanity home ownership:

• Earn 30-60% of the median Portland area household income (for example, approx. $20,350 - $40,750 for a family of four -- please visit the Portland Development Commission website for complete median income data by family size)
  
• Currently live in public subsidized or substandard housing (overcrowded, unsafe or family spending more than 50% of gross monthly income on rent)
  
• Demonstrate the ability to purchase based on good credit history and steady income with solid work history
  
• Commit to 500 hours of sweat equity working on their own and others’ homes
  
• Be a resident of the Portland metro area for at least six months
  
• Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident

If a family meets these criteria, they should attend a Homeowner Application meeting to find out more about our program and receive a housing application. Our next application meeting will be held in the Spring of 2009. To receive information about the meetings, please contact the Habitat for Humanity office through email or by calling (503) 287-9529.

Applications are only available by attending a Homeowner Application meeting.

Completed applications are reviewed by the Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East selection committee and approved by our Board of Directors. Accepted homeowner families are then contacted to complete paperwork for the program, and start working to accrue sweat equity hours.

Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East homes are sold at no profit to our homeowner families, with a one-percent down payment and a zero-interest mortgage. Homeowners are responsible for repairs, taxes, insurance and household costs. Habitat for Humanity homeowner mortgage payments are put into a revolving fund that helps pay for construction of future homes in the Portland/Metro East community.

If you have any specific questions about this process, please contact our Family Services Manager, Matina Kauffman at 503-287-9529, ext 22, or by email.